Typewriter



Mar. 27, 1923- L. R. ROBERTS TYPEWRITER Filed Nov. 19, 1919 5 Sheets-sheet Mar. 27, 1923- L. R. ROBERTS TYPEWRITER Patented Mar. 27, i923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN R. ROBERTS, F RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSGN- MENTS, T0 L. R. ROBERTS TYPEWRITER. COMPANY, F STANFORD, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPURATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITER.

Application filed November 19, 1918.

To (1l/Violino if may; wom-wn Be it known that l. LYMAN It. Rounli'rs. a citizen ol' the llnited States. residing at Rutherford, eountjyr ot' Bergen. and State oi' New Jersey, have invented eer-tain new and useful Improvement` in 'lyliewritel-S. fully deseribed and reprefiented iu the following speeitieation and the :leeoinpanving drawings.y l'orning a part of the sante.

This invention relates to improvements In typew'iters.

lt is the priueipal object of the invention to provide a typewriter sut'h that the type bars mav be readilyv removed from the maehine, for the purpose of substitution or the like. and readilyY replaeetl in operative rela tion with their operating nieehanisms.

lith this general objet-t, and otherswhich will he obvious to those skilled in the art. in view, the invention eonsists in the tea tures` details ol ronstruetion and combinationsy whit-h will first he deserihed in eonueetion with the areomlmnying drawings. and then more partieularly pointed out.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a view in side elevation of u typewriter eonstrueted in aeeordanee with the invention;

ltig. 2 is a view of the saine in rear ele nl v-.ition with parte` broken away;

Fig. 3 is a erosa seetional view taken on the broken line 2-Jl ol' 'I `ig. l.

Fig. l in a view in vertical cross Heelion. Fig. is a view in horizontal section show- 55 ing a portion ol' the ease-shift mechanism;

Fig. t3 is a eross sectional view taken on the line G-( of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a cross seetional view taken on the line 7*7 of Fig. l. l0 Referring to the drawings. there is provided a set of type hars and a Set of operating mechanisms, eaeh type har being freely removable from its corresponding operating meehanism when in a` position of rest. and l5 locked thereto during operation. 1n Structures embodying the invention to the best advantage the operating mechanisms include members having sliding (rontaet with the type lbars to aetuate the same. Although so capable of various constructions, in the embodiment illustrated` there is provided a Set of type bars 11 bearing the type characters l2. Each type bar, pvotally mounted, as

Serial No. 2G3,16.

hereinafter deserihed, normally rests on an areuate support 't3 secured to the framel 14 of the maehine.

These type bars are swung upwardly by operating luerhanisma4 including a set of keys 15 which form the key hoard of the maehine. As shown, the keys are earried on key levers` 16' having their outer arms so arranged as to locate the keyey in three horizontal banks. as shown in Fig. 4. In order that the ke)4 levers may have an equal throw they are pivoted on three diiferent cross rods. The ke)Y leverV ot' the outer bank are ,pivoted on a` forward eros@` rod 1T, those of the intermediate bank on an intermediate eross rod 1H. and those of the inner bank on a rear cross rod It?. The key levers, are held in their normal position by a stop plate 2H.

livotally mounted, as hereinafter described. is a set. of suhlevers 21. Each of these operating or sub levers is provided with a. pin 22 hearing against the under side of the eorreslnunling type bar. It will he :eeen that when the Suhlever 2l is swung upwardly the engagement of the pin .22 with the type har will e-.luse the latter to be swung upwardly for its printing stroke.y the pin having a alidiug engagement with the type har during thisL operation. The sublevers 2l are actuated h v meana` ol' the key levers. lli and to thi4 end, eaeh key lever is con neeted with ita` corresponding suhlever b v a link 21%. As Shown. this link is in the forni of a wire. hooked through holes in the two levers. Although the various links 23 perform the same fum-tions. it will be obvious that. as the key 'levers are in a horizontal hank and the auhleveral in an arcuate bank, the links will var)7 in length and configuration according to their osition.

To lock a type bar an its operating meehanisni, together during operation. each type bar is provided with an a'rm 24 forming an open ended slot 25. AS Will he seen from Fig. .4. when the parts are in a position of rest, this slot terminates just short of the pin 22. lVhen, however, the key lever is operated, the upward swing of the parts causes the pin to enter the slot and the two lever are thai` loeked together until their returli to the position of rest.A

Vith the eonstruetion described, the type bars may be readily removed from. t-h oper.

atingmechanisms, when in a position of rest, as there is no connection between them, and they are locked together during operation. This construction provides, further, a properly effective acceleration in the type bar action. Furthermore, there is no torsion on the type bar itself, which aids in maintaining alignment.

The invention includes in its entirety a removable mount for the type bars, a fixed mount for the sublevers. and means for positioning;r the removable mount in the frame of the machine. In structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, the type bars and sublerers are mounted so as to swing in radial planes havingr a common centre. Although capable of various constructions, in that here illustrated` the type bars are carried by a removable mount in the t'orm of a segment 30, provided with a plurality ot' radial slots 31 In which the type bars are pivoted. To this end. as appears more clearly in Fig. 4, each type bar is formed, at its inner end with a. rounded portion which is inserted in one of the slots 31 and which has a central openinzgr for the passage of a common pivotal wire This pivotal wire is concentric with thesegment and is seated in the bottom of a V-shaped groove 33 formed in the outer edge of the segment 30. The mount or segment 3() also carries means fo'r'returning the type bars to normal posltion. To this end, attached to each type bar is a coil spring` 34, the other end of which is secured to a bracket 35 screwed or otherwise attached to the back face of the nient 30.

As before stated, means is provided for positionin, t the removable segment 3() in the frame. As shown, the frame is formed at cach side with an internal shoulder '36 providinggr supporting uprights between which the type bar segment is hung. In the face of each of these two shoulders is set a dowel 37. Cooperatingl with these supporting uprights are yoltes 38 secured to the end faces of the segment 30 and formingr supporting projections by means of which the segment is hung in the frame. The yokes 38 are oriticed to take over dowels 37, as more clearly appears in Fig. 3.

When the yokes 38 are slipped over the dowels 37 the segment is hung between the supporting uprights `and is denitely positioned, and means is provided for securing it in this position. Although capable of various constructions, as here shown, threaded through the frame of the machine, at each side. is a` pointed thumb screw 39. This is adapted to pass through an opening in the side plate of the yoke 38 and to enter the V-shaped groove 33. as more clearly appears in Fig. 7. It will be seen thatJvhen the two screws are tightened up, their points,

entering the V-shaped groove 33, securely clamp the segment in position.

For mounting the sublevers 21, as here illustrated, below the removable segment 30, is a fixed segment 40 concentric with segment 30 and secured to the frame by screws 41 or the like. This segment is formed with a plurality of spaced radial slots 4Q which have a centre common with the center of the slots of the removable segment. In each of these slots 42 is pivoted one of the sublevers 21. The levers are pivoted on a common pivotal wire 43 which is concentric with the pivotal wire 32 of the type bars and which has its seat in the bottom of a recess 44 formed in the front face ot' the Segment.

It will be seen that with the construction described, removal and insertion of the bank of type bars, for substitution or the like, are extremely simple operations. By loosening,r the thumb screws 39, the removable Segment, carrying the type bars, is free to be lifted out, the individual type bars being freely separable from their operating mechanisms, as before described. In replacing the same or a substitute set, it is only necessary to slipthe yoke members over the dowels 37, thus pgsitioningir the mount or segment, and tighten the thumb screws 39. There is no necessity for any careful adjustment or intricate manipulation. No connections or the like have to be made between the type bars and their operatingr mechanisms. and with tle type bar segment mounted in the frame as described, the re moval and insertion of tvpe har units is effected without loss of alinement.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated each type bar carries three type characters and there is provision for a double case-shift to shift the platen and its carriage into an extreme or an intermediate position in accordance with the type character to be used. To this end, forming part of the key board, are two case-shift levers 50, 51. The lever for the extreme caseshift is pivotally mounted on a tierod 52 near the rear of the machine and the intermediate case shift lever 51 is mounted to swing on a rock shaft 53.

The platen 54 has its shaft journalled in the end pieces 55 of a carriage 56, which is mounted to have the usual reciprocating' movement` by means of two sets of ball hearings 57 riding y in grooved rails 58 on the. carriage and a doubly grooved leguide 59. This carriage guide 59 is supportedfb'y upwardly extending arms 60 formed o a carriage truck in the form of a rigid plate 6l. To give the plate carriage case-shift movement, this truck is mounted on two vertically reciprqcatng plunger-s 62 sliding in cylindrlcal bearing members 63 cast on the frame at the rear corners. In order that operation of the case-shift levers may causo the plungers to raise the platen carriage, the hangers are connected by a eros-s har 64, eneath whieh extends a lifting lever 65. This lifting lever is keyed or otherwise seeured to the roi-lc shat't .33. Also secured to the roeli'shatt is an operating lever titi over whit-h extends a lug (3T torna-d on the ease-shift lever 5l) and a similar lug G8 formed in the easeshitt levez' 5l. lt will be seen that on the depression of either ease-shift lever, its lug: will engage the operatimer lever Gti thus meltingr shaft 53, and this in turn causes the lifting lever lia to engage the eross bar o4 and raise the pluri gers (l2, thus shifting the vertieal position of the platen carriage. The limit ot movement for the extreme rase-shift is lixed by the engagement of the eross bar tlwith a washer or rinor (if) serured to the trame. To make this limit of movement adjustable. the washer' titl is wedgfhshaped and is secured to the frame b v .srrews 'passingr through arcuate slots 7U. B V shifting the washer (itl on its renters a greater or less amount of metal is interposed in the path of the eloss bar and the movement ailowed is decreased or inta-eased arrordingzly.

For the intermediate ease-shift. a sparing lug is interposed between the cross bar and the washer to tix the movement oi' the pinngers. To this end,in the present embodin ment, the ease-shift lever :il has a rearwardly extending armA 72 earryinpr a pin TI which rides in a slot T4 formed in a movA able )late T5. This plate has a seeond slot 76 which rides over two aligned pins Tl. With this eonstrnrtion.operation oi' the raseshift lever causes a rearward. horizontal movement ofthe plato 'I5'. This plate earries a spaeing'lng TH. so arranged as to le interposed between th(` ross har and the washer 6.0 when the plate is moved by operation ot' the, ease-shift lever. lt will be seen` therefore. that the ease-shift lever 51 will eause the carriage to be moved to an intermediate position only` as it is limited by the engagement ot' the eross liar with the spacing` lug. Adjustment may be made also for this ease-shift by movement of the washer 69 as above deseribed.

In order tofprevent boum-ing of the platen earriage during operation ot' the 1na Chine, there is provided means for locking the carriage against raising movement, and in structures embodyinpr the invention to the best ad 'antagta a locking member is normally interposed between the earriage raisingr meehanism and a fixed abutment. Althoughcapable of various eonstruetions,

as shown. on a eross shaft Htl are mounted loekine plates 81 provided with shoulders 82 which normally take over the cross bar (i4. The upper end of eaeh looking plate is in close proximity to a fixed abutment 83 formed on the frame 0f the machine.. The

loc-king plates H1 are normally held in lock in;r position b v means of a sprinpr 181 serured at one end to the shaft 8() and at the other end to the trame of the machine. With these locking plates interposed between the fixed abutment and the removable rrossf bar` the earriage is made substantially solid with the frame and any bouneing of their sublevers together.

Means is provided for removinlgr the locking; plates to permit ease-shift movement of the platen earriantn and in Structures embodyintr the invention to the best advantage, the lorltingf plates are eaused to be removed troni loeking;r position upon operation of either of the easeshil't levers. As here shown` as an example. on the pivotal shaft Htl of the loelting plates, is mounted a dog H4 hadntr a rounded shoulder taking over a pin Hf on the operating lever (l5. then the roelf shaft is operated by the artion of either ease-shift lever` the eonsequent movement ol operating; lever (l5 eauses pin S5 to :swingr the dog 84 rear ardly. yThis movement ot' the dog, through, shaft 8f). eauses `the lo-l ing r plates to swiner out of the way, thereby permittingelevation of the plungers and thil platen earriage.' llpon return of the earriage to normal position the looking plate airain moves into loeking position by means of its spring 181.

ln the eonstruetion here illustrated, the eross bar (il whieh eonneets the two plungers o2 serves as an assembling` member for f-onnertingr the platen earriage with the frame. and is readily removable to permit removal ot' the earriagge. Means is also provided for holdinlgr the eross bar in plaee without interferingr with its ready removal. Athough capable ot' various eonstruetions, as here shown, the eross bar (i4 passes through holes formed in the plungers (l2 ot' a size to permit its ready removal and insertion. The eross har, when in place, extends out some distanre beyond the plungers` as appears in VFig. 2. Near each end,y it is provided with a eireumt'erential groove to reeeive a spring pressed seeurinp; member. ln the` present embodiment this securinlgr member also serves as a balancing member for the carriage. As shown, pivoted on a pin titl, at eaeh side of the machine. is a bell eranl( lever 87, the lower arm of whieh extends below the cross bar 64 and takes into the groove above mentioned. The upper arm of the bell crank 87 is notehed to adjustably receive the end of a eoil balam'e sprinpr 8S, the other end` of whieh is seeured to the maehine frame. 'ith the eonstruetion deserihed, the eross bar is held in plaee by the balaneing members and to remove the rross bar it isonly necessary to swing down the bell eranks away from the cross bar. I `urtl1ermore. this eonstruetion` with a balaneing mechanism at each side, provides a more even balance. as thvl wright shifts with the travel of the carriage. lt is noted that upon removal ol' tht` rrosrL har oil and a StrPw HS) in th@ hurl( Spal-r nwchaniani i90. the (-arriage. is tro@ for rmnoral from thi.l frame.

The above (list'rihad naar shifting: lraturea are i'laimvd in a roptudinp; dirioional appli cation. Ser. No. 381539?.

What is t'lairned is):

l. ln a, t \ipewritvr, and in romhination, a relativrly Stationary l'ranw harinar son porting uprghts. a readily removable typo har srgnwnt in wliirh the typo hat#` art` pivotally mounted, hlin r hotwefvn thu supportinfrr npri'grhts and having;r Supporting pro jertions which cooperate with tho supporting uprights. operating nioinhvrs for thvy type loarsv separato therefrom and normally @ng-aging thv saine from livlow. livrvhy the type hars are), while in a position of rest. freely Slparahh from thi-ir rwpvrtirv operating iounilwrs when thv sognwnt is rvinoved. infami for positioning this supportH ing: projertions upon the supporting nprights7 and mean's for notturni@r tho svginent in position` 2. ln a typewriter, and in ronihination, a relatively stationary frame having snpporting uprights. a roadil)v rvoiovalilv type har segment in whirh the typel hars aro pivot-ally monntod1 hong hutn'eon tho supportin;r upright@ and having `aupportiinf lrojettions whit-h rooprrato with thiJ wir porting;` upright. suhhrvrs `l-paratifrom thv type hars and normally rngafling the Same from below. wherohjv' tinl typo hars arr. whiloy in a position of rest. tri-olv separahle from their rospri-liw suhlorrri; n'hrn the stgment is rvniovmh key lovers. and oporative vnunet-tions hetwvn thtA hay lvrvrs and thv siohhvrrs.

l. ln a typewriter. and in romhination, a rtlativtly Stationary traino havin;r supportingr uprights, a readilyY ri'inovahlv type har sogrinvnt hong; lwtnovn snirl Supporting; nprighta and harinf r s-upportin, r projortioih4 which r'ooptrati` with tho supporting' uprights. typt hars pivotally mounted in `aid sogumnt. operating invinhorei i'or thv typo harS. svparat@ therot'roin and norm-.illy vn- ;:aging the typt hars from below. wht-roby the type hars. whih` at rest. may hv liftvd away from the operating' nifnihors upon rrmoval of the Segment, and moans for loi-liA innr the type hars and thoir opvratin;V ownihers together (hiring operation.

4. In a typewritor, and in ronihination, a relatively stationary traum haring snp porting nprights. a rvadil)P rvniovalile typo har Segment. hung hetwrvn said npportin;r upright and having lwupporting proiortion;L whirl". t-oopmiltil with tho supportin;r opY rights` type liar@ pi\otallv nionntrd in Haiti eegrrient5 subieron; l'or thil type hara4 sii-o :irate from the typo hara and having pinf1 normally engaging; lh@ type hariw' ifroin ha lon'. lim-olly the type hai-S arie. o'liiir in a punition of rr t`r l'i ly wparahia lroni thiir roaprotivr sohlrvorr: olion thomigniont roniorod. and arms` on thv typo hars forming upon Unfit-il lots mnlirarinp mill pion tiny-in l1 operation. therein' to loilt thi typo liarr` and their Huh-lavora toni-thor.

In a typen'ri and in ronihination, a rolatiwl'v stationar;Y tramo hai in@r @opportinif uprightii. said upright having flat, horizontal supporting1 Sorlin-os. a rrzulilj.' rr niovahlv typo har sogjnnnt hung' hotrvovn mid supporting; oprigfhts and harina any porting projiitious Whit-i1 omgaat said Surlai-oh` roopvratiim` loi'ating elifnunts rarrird ll.\' Maid projertiona and Said upl'lgghtri lor liu-ating the svgnirnt in a giron position` opt-rating nlonihirs for thil type hars. said typo liars and oporatinir momia-rs haring mutually engaging vontaift Hartan-s l'ruoly svparahlo upon ronioral oi' the .Lieginvnt and hroupht into opor-ahh rolation upon loe-at,- ingr thv segnwnttin position. and nii-ans for removably svrnring tho annulent in thi'A loratori position,

l. In a t \\pi\rritvi. and in roinllination. =i rilat,i\'ol \,ir stationary frana haring mpporlY ini! oprightr"` a i'iailily rolnmalilv typtirai sggmrnt hung hotn'm-n aait! Suppoitiin;r n; rigjlitb` and having;v supporting proiwftiom` Whirh rooporati with tho Lnipportinf*lnpi'ightiw. typt hanj pirotalilv niounttd in Said svglnvnt, operating nullnininnm4 for thi` typo liars and So arrangfrd that thv typo liars aro finely svparahhl troni thv oporatinfr niiihaniriins wlwn thv srgnunt is riniorrd, dowvl and Sorlin! ronnic'tions tor pooitioning the supportingT projortiona` on tho supporting uprights` and raadily arvwhiiilv tlinnih ,arrows for loi-kin;r the Hvgnwnt in pohition.

T. in a tyv]w\\iitir` and in ri'inihinatioih :i i'tlatirrlj.' stationary fralnr having nnpportinLr oprighti, a rradiljtv ronioialahj typo har segment hung lie-turno said `'iipportingg nprights and harinar upportin;r projifetionr; n'liirh rooporate with thv anpporting; op rightsz, type har` pivot-.illy nionntvil in naid Hognwnt to swing in radial plantb haring a ronunon routing a svt of opvratin'g :nonihirs for the type hars. a tixisd srglnrnt in which 'tho opurating moinlivrs :iro nionntid to swing in radial planua` haring :i iomn'ion renten tluI type hars tiring t'riely soparahle from thtl operating: members when tho type har sogfnmit is rrmowil.

54. ln a typowriteig and in ronihination, a rvlativolv stationar)Vr traine having sur porting oprig'hls` :i readily reniov'ahle type har sognwnt1 hungr lirtnuvn said Supporting oprightr'i. and havingr sopportinr proiestiona whirh t-ooporatri with the slq'iportingz nprikghtt'` a lixiil nognwnt rarriel liv the frame, rauh of Saul segmento having; pluloo rality of radial slots struck from a. common center, t pe bars pivoted in the slots bf tl'e reinovab e segment, sublevers pvoted in the slots of the fixed segment, the type bars being freely separable from the slublevers when the removable segment is removed ,key levers, and operating connectllons between the key levers and the sublevers.

9. In a typewriter, and in combination, a relatively stationary frame havinr sup- Eorting uprights, a readily removabe type er segmentr hung between said supporting uprights and having supporting projections which cooperate with the supporting, uprights, a xed segment carried by the frame, each of said segments having a plurality of radial slots, tlype bars pivoted in the slots of the removal) e segment, Sublevers pivoted in the slots of the fxed segment, the type bars being freely separable from the snblevers when the removable segment is removed, ke)` levers, and operating connections between the key levers and the sublevers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand.

LYMAN R. ROBERTS.

Geticate of Correction.

`It"is heby rtedthnt in Letter-s Patent No. 1 450,115, ated 'MarchQ'L 1928, upon thq np'plicatlon of Lyman R. Roberts, of herforj .New Jersey, for nn-mprovement-m 'f Typewrtors, 'an error appears in tho printed sgeqicntion requirlng-'oom'tion as foklowp: Page 3, line 74,V strike out' th'e words their sub- ]avexs thmand insert instead the caniagea'a prevented; and that the said Letters ntfshould 'be read with this-correction therein' thot the same may 'popformto thofrwbrd' of thacase in the Patent Oflue.

,slfn'od d'enled this 29thdayof Muy, A. D., 1923. v

UNI-J' KARL FENNING,

Acting 'qmmadmr of Patonta, 

